External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar engaged in discussions with Annalena Baerbock, the visiting President of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), on various pressing matters including the implications of artificial intelligence and the ongoing conflict in West Asia. The talks took place in New Delhi on Tuesday.
In a statement posted on X, Jaishankar emphasized the necessity for reformed multilateralism that accurately reflects current global realities, especially those of the Global South. He acknowledged Baerbock’s leadership and contributions to these discussions.
At a subsequent press conference, Baerbock highlighted the escalating geopolitical tensions, fragmentation, and the increasing strain on the United Nations’ three core pillars: peace and security, development, and human rights. “Today, the United Nations, multilateralism, and international law are not only under pressure, but under direct attack,” she stated.
Baerbock underscored that no country, regardless of its size or strength, can tackle today’s intricate global challenges—such as climate change, pandemics, the economic fallout from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, or the situation in the Strait of Hormuz—independently.
Addressing the recent proposal by former U.S. President Donald Trump regarding a Board of Peace, Baerbock rejected the notion of a permanent membership fee, asserting, “Every country, no matter how big or small, how powerful or rich, has a seat at the table; you will not find just peace for anybody in the world if you have to pay a fee to join it.” Trump’s initiative for Gaza has been viewed as a potential alternative to existing UN mechanisms.
On the topic of UN reforms, Baerbock affirmed that while the UN is an essential institution, it must evolve to become more efficient and responsive to global needs.
